First The Gyroball, Now The Shuuto

The “Shuuto” or Shootball is another mythical Japanese pitch, like Dice-K’s Gyroball. Look it up on ten websites and you’ll get ten explanations – from a “cross between a fastball, slider and sinker” to a “reverse slider” to “somewhat similar to a screwball.” Whatever it is, Takashi Saito throws it and he’s gonna be in the Red Sox bullpen in 2009.